Cinderella gets invited to the ball this weekend - twice

By Bernie Petit / bpetit@gastongazette.com

Published: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 09:09 AM.

WANT TO GO?

-The Cherryville Little Theatre presents the musical “Disney’s Cinderella, Kids” at 7 p.m. tonight through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday; doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance. Tickets are $5 ad the door, free for children 3 and younger. The theatre is at 301 W. Academy St.

-The Gaston Dance Theatre presents the ballet “Cinderella” at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the performing arts center at Gaston Day School, 2001 Gaston Day School Rd., Gastonia. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 students/seniors and $8 children 4 and younger; tickets can be purchase by calling 704-865-5943, by visiting www.carolinatix.org or at the door as available.

Two versions of the classic love story “Cinderella” are being presented in Gaston County this weekend. One, by the Cherryville Little Theatre, is a condensed adaptation of the Disney animated film. The other, by Gaston Dance Theatre, is a more traditional presentation of the folk tale.

“It has to do with that fairy tale princess type of feeling of being able to find true love, being able to overcome adversity to achieve that true happiness and overcome life as it sometimes presents itself,” Deese said. “And the belief that true love still exists and it can be found.”

The basic plot holds true in both local productions – Cinderella dreams of going to the ball but she works as a servant for her wicked stepmother and mischievous stepsisters. Her fairy godmother intervenes and casts a spell to let Cinderella go to the ball, where she captivates the prince. As midnight – the time the enchantment wears off – approaches, she departs, leaving behind the glass slipper the prince uses to find her.

Little girls can come dressed as the fairy tale princess to Cherryville Little Theatre’s “Disney’s Cinderella, Kids” for a chance to win a prize. The 30-minute production is designed to keep kids’ attentions while giving young performers a chance to shine onstage. The cast of 25 ranges in age from 7 to 18 years old.

“Longer plays are often too difficult for younger children to get speaking parts and memorize all of the lines,” Fox said. “We chose ‘Cinderella’ because it is well-known and has tunes we all remember.”

Songs featured in abbreviated forms include “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and “The Work Song,” which is performed by five mice. The mice are elementary students ranging from 7 to 10 years old and help transform Cinderella from a maid to made.

“I feel like the mice are probably going to steal the show,” Fox said. “Their lines are very cute and funny. The audience will probably like the interaction with the stepmother and stepsisters, too. They’re characters you love to hate.”

‘A different storyline’ in Gaston Dance ballet

The furry helpers in the Disney version are replaced by the fairies of spring, summer, winter and fall in Gaston Dance Theatre’s “Cinderella,” based on a1945 Russian ballet.

The titular character’s father is present here, but is submissive to the whims of his new wife. The music featured in the three-act, hour and a half performance is rich and powerful, Deese said.

“It also has some very comical situations almost built into the music,” she said. “It’s a love story but it’s also a comedy as well, particularly in regards to the stepsisters and their behaviors.”

Such is the case at the ball, where the sisters fight over oranges (“Fruit was considered precious and commoners wouldn’t necessarily have access to citrus fruits,” Deese said). One sister sticks an orange down her dress and the other squishes it, cause orange juice to cover her.

The production features 29 dancers ranging from elementary age to adult. Most were unfamiliar with the ballet, Deese said.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to be able to explore a different storyline as far as the name ‘Cinderella’ goes,” she said. “Hopefully audiences will enjoy the dancing, the score, the comedy, costumes and being able to follow the story and see it through movement.”

WANT TO GO?

-The Cherryville Little Theatre presents the musical “Disney’s Cinderella, Kids” at 7 p.m. tonight through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday; doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance. Tickets are $5 ad the door, free for children 3 and younger. The theatre is at 301 W. Academy St.

-The Gaston Dance Theatre presents the ballet “Cinderella” at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the performing arts center at Gaston Day School, 2001 Gaston Day School Rd., Gastonia. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 students/seniors and $8 children 4 and younger; tickets can be purchase by calling 704-865-5943, by visiting www.carolinatix.org or at the door as available.